Working during cancer treatment can be difficult and stressful. It’s important to understand whether your job is safe while going through cancer treatment, what effects chemotherapy and radiation therapy have on work when it’s okay to re-enter the workforce after surgery, and more. This article will explore these topics in depth so that you can make an educated decision about how best to handle your job while undergoing cancer treatment.
The Effect of Chemotherapy on Work
Chemotherapy, like radiation therapy and surgery, is a treatment for cancer. Chemotherapy uses drugs to attack cancer cells. It usually produces side effects that can be managed with medical care and sometimes medicines.
Side effects of chemotherapy depend on the drugs used in the treatment and how your body reacts to them. Common short-term side effects of chemotherapy include:
- Nausea and vomiting
- Diarrhea or constipation
- Fatigue (feeling very tired)
You may also have long-term problems after cancer treatment ends:
- Hair loss on any part of your body where hair grows
These are only some examples of possible side effects. Some treatments may cause other reactions not listed here; check with us if you’re concerned about something specific or want more information about how a specific drug affects people with cancer
Effects of Radiation Therapy on Work
It’s easy to assume that people who are receiving radiation therapy will be fine at work. They choose to continue working and do not automatically need time off work like people who are recovering from a surgery. The truth is that radiation therapy can have a significant impact on your body, so it’s important that you take into consideration how it will affect you during the course of your treatment.
The most common side effects associated with radiation therapy include fatigue, nausea and vomiting, hair loss (this varies depending on the type and location of the tumor), skin changes (redness or dryness), mouth sores, and breathing problems (if there is damage to the lungs).
Working During Surgery
During this time, you may be off work for a while. You may also need to take some time off during your recovery. In any case, it’s likely that you will be able to return to work once the surgery is completed and you’ve recovered from any side effects of the treatment.
If your job involves regular office hours—whether they’re 9-5 or 8-4 or something else—you may have no choice but to work from home during recovery. But if you have flexible working hours or can make up for lost days later on, consider taking advantage of them by working from home in order to spend more time with family and friends who are supporting you through this difficult process.
Re-entering the Workforce After a Diagnosis
When you’re ready, it’s important to get back into the swing of things. It’s tempting to take it easy, but that can actually make your recovery longer.
- Keep in mind that it’s okay if you need some time off work after treatment ends. Talk with your employer about returning on a part-time schedule until you feel ready for full-time work again.* If your illness has led to a disability, ask your employer about reasonable accommodations such as time off for medical appointments or alternative duties so you can perform essential job functions.* You might find that going back part-time is best for now or maybe even taking a leave of absence until you feel better and want more hours at work (although many employers aren’t required by law).
- Your employer may also offer flexible scheduling options that allow employees to swap shifts around so they don’t have as much overtime—even though this can be difficult if someone wants extra income one week but not another!
Working During Cancer Treatment
If you are undergoing cancer treatment, it’s likely that the disease will have a significant impact on your work life. You might have to adjust your schedule, workload, travel, and other aspects of your job in order to successfully treat cancer.
It’s important to communicate with your employer about these changes so that they’re aware of what you can handle and what you can’t. For example:
- Talk with them about whether or not you’ll need any accommodations at work due to treatment side effects (for example, if you don’t feel well after chemo sessions).
- Let them know if there are certain days when it would be better for you not to come into the office (such as those days when blood counts are low) or if there are times during the day when it would be better for someone else take over some tasks so that they don’t put too much stress on an already busy schedule (like weekends).
- If possible, tell them how often they should expect emails from their employees who aren’t feeling well enough yet again recover quickly enough so as not to disrupt normal operations within any given department.
You Are Most Important
If you’re diagnosed with cancer, it’s important to know that your job is not the most important thing. If you need to take time off work, that’s okay—and if you can go back to work before treatments are finished, so much the better. The most important thing is that you get the care and treatment needed for your health and well-being.
Read more:
Working During Cancer Treatment
Going to Work During and After Cancer